Brussels Airlines Reverses Ban on Israel-Made Halva

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Brussels Airlines will resume serving Achva Halva. Photo: Achva.

JNS.org – Responding to pressure from Israel and Israeli customers, Brussels Airlines has reinstated supplying the Israeli Ahva brand Halva on its flights.

Brussels Airlines had stopped serving Israeli-made halva on flights after a complaint was launched by a Palestinian activist last week. The Palestinian Solidarity Movement activist was traveling from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport to Brussels when he noticed the dessert being served was made by the Ahva brand. He informed other activists about the product and they complained to the airline, which conceded to their request.

“The customer who came to us with the complaint brought to our attention that the aforementioned dessert is a controversial product. As a company that serves an international audience full of people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, it is our responsibility to present products that will be amicable to all, and therefore, we decided to change desserts,” Brussels Airlines said in a statement after the decision.

However, Israeli embassies in Brussels and Berlin have worked “vigorously” on the issue since the airline announced it is removing the confection from its menu, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson told the Jerusalem Post.

In a new letter sent by the airline to Israeli Ambassador to Belgium Simona Frankel, the airline stated that, “Ahva remains one of our trusted providers, without distinguishing the origin of the product, and therefore, we will continue to have Ahva products on our flights, especially in light of the critical role it plays in the (Israeli) community.”